‘I tried to do everything right’: Kuujjuaq votes down businessman’s road project
Referendum rejects opening Nuvuk Bay Hill for development; Nunavik Enterprises Inc. owner says he followed process
Sammy Duncan said he was ordered to stop construction Aug. 15 on a road in Kuujjuaq due to lack of a development permit from the municipal council. (Photo by Dominique Gené)
Updated Sept. 18 at 1:25 p.m. ET
A Kuujjuaq businessman says he did what he always does when starting a development in the village — he applied for a permit, received a receipt and started building.
But things went sideways earlier this year when Sammy Duncan followed this process and was forced to stop work on a 900-metre road leading to the top of the community’s Nuvuk Bay Hill.
The stoppage — ordered by the municipality over the lack of a permit — was followed by a community vote to decide whether the development should happen at all.
Kuujjuaq residents voted Tuesday, 315 to 37, against the development, in which Duncan said he’s already invested about $40,000 in materials and labour.
In the spring, Duncan, owner of Nunavik Enterprises Inc., a real estate and heavy equipment rentals company that owns property in Kuujjuaq including one rented by Nunatsiaq News, applied to build the road to a spot where he planned to build a house in the next two years.
He started work on July 30.
But on Aug. 15, Duncan received a letter from Kuujjuaq’s bylaw enforcement officer Michael Filteau ordering him to immediately stop construction, citing the lack of an approved permit from the municipal council.
The council gave notice Sept. 2 that a referendum would be held to let residents decide whether the Nuvuk Bay Hill area should be opened for development.
Kuujjuaq Mayor Mary Johannes said the referendum was called because Nuvuk Bay Hill is a protected area.
“It was decided years back that the area was not for development,” she said in an interview.
Duncan said he was not told at any point during the application process that the area was protected.
“I did everything by the book because I expected to be stopped along the way,” he said. “I’m used to being stopped, always being fought.”
Duncan showed a June 16 receipt and invoice that confirmed had paid the permit fee. He said he thought the receipt was the permit.
When shown a copy of what the actual permit looks like, as seen in the bylaw, Duncan said, “First time in my life, I see that.”
Duncan said he never received a proper permit before and has always moved forward with his projects after getting the receipt.
The Kuujjuaq zoning bylaw states that a person has to receive a development permit from the municipal council before beginning any construction work.
On June 12, Duncan applied for the permit with the municipality and paid the non-refundable fee of $100, as required in the bylaw.
Johannes said Duncan’s project had not yet been approved by the municipal council.
Documents provided to Nunatsiaq News show that the board of directors of Nayumivik Landholding Corp., which owns and manages protected lands in Kuujjuaq, approved the location for Duncan’s new lot request.
But Kuujjuaq’s bylaw states the committee only provides recommendations on planning matters — it does not make decisions on development permit applications.
The letter from Nayumivik Landholding Corp. informed Duncan he still had to fill out a permit application at least 60 days before the beginning of construction and receive proper authorization from the municipality.
Nunatsiaq News asked Nayumivik Landholding Corp. why it approved a lot in a protected area in the first place, but it declined to comment.
Duncan said he respects the community’s vote.
“I can only say I did my part. I tried to do everything right,” he said.
Note: This story was updated to note Nunatsiaq News is a tenant in property owned by Sammy Duncan.
Everything in the Socialist Republic of Nunavik has to be owned by the people . capitalism not welcomed !!!
An environment hostile business is one doomed to poverty.
Too much petty jealousy.
The view is not bad overlooking the Koksoak River. The hoops we have to jump thru in a protected area development are for the public. Hilltop builds and hilltop realestate are the thing in Fort Chimo, it’s about one upping – I’ve upped my income, up yours 🌱
“Duncan said he was not told at any point during the application process that the area was protected.”
This is difficult to believe since Duncan has been on many boards and committees over the years in Kuujjuaq.
Well well protected area and it was starting to be developed, wow Kuujjuaq! Sammy Duncan is on enough boards to know the difference between a receipt of payment and an actual approved permit. Plus a protective area, why would anyone try to develop that ? Maybe an entitlement feeling of a person. Too many people have been abusing their citizenship and financial status over too many years, it’s time that people stop it. Happy its voted no go.
It’s interesting to see if that piece of land will be correctly put back to it’s original state. And let all persons learn a lesson, you can’t do as you please, at least not like back in the old days. Accountability maybe new to some people, but like taking the law in your own hands, acceptable no more. We dont want to be like some corrupt old county, like in the movies, thats not good.
There will be a Casino there soon.
These unanimous comments, especially the negative ones should not be allowed! Every newspaper that has any credibility requires that a person name themselves and include their address as well if they want to make a comment. If you have something to say, go ahead and say it but don’t be afraid to put your name to it. There’s nothing to be afraid of!
Just because a newspapers “requires” an actual name to be included with a comment is NO guarantee that said newspaper/outlet is credible or has credibility!
If a newspapers/outlet wants to claim to be “credible” then they should also allow comments/replies that they disagree with!
Anything less is censorship & defeats the claim of credibility, after all FREE SPEECH also includes speech that others disagree with!
Anything less verges on communism, just because someone is at a loss for words to respond to someone’s comment is their problem & they need to learn to live with it!